2. 2
Friday 20 July
Lakeside Marquee
Book a table of 10 and have your ticket free!
Why not have a reunion with friends from your year –
use the online directory to help find your classmates.
Ask alumni@wbs.ac.uk if you need help with this.
ating
ebr
el Let the occasion carry on over the weekend and come
40
W BS c
along to the WBS Open Day on Saturday 21 July
– a family fun day, tour of the new facilities, taster
rs
lectures, buffet and drinks, with overnight stays
yea
1967 – 2007
available at Radcliffe or Scarman.
innovative
3. 3
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message from the dean
I t is an honour to be writing to you as graduates of WBS in the year in which
we celebrate 40 years of success of management education at Warwick.
Two years after the establishment of the University of Warwick, in 1965,
the Warwick School of Industrial & Business Studies was founded, which
subsequently became Warwick Business School. Since then development has
been dramatic.
Our business school is now home to 7,500 students and 315 staff. Combined
with an alumni community of 21,000 in over 125 countries the strength of
WBS is growing. Physically, we have new state-of-the-art facilities, with plans
to further expand these once funding has been secured. We also have one of
the largest and most distinguished faculties of any business school in Europe.
Such striking growth has been no accident; it is a strong reflection of the ambitious ethos of the business
school over those 40 years, and I must thank my colleagues who have gone before me, and each of you, for
playing your part in making WBS what it is today.
As globalisation changes the face of modern education, our vision to be the principal thought leader and
innovator among business schools globally is no small challenge. However, if in 40 years we can become
one of the leading schools in the UK and Europe, envisage our position after another 40 years on the
world stage. As the world becomes smaller, we aim to break into the top 10 institutions for business and
management education globally.
The Financial Times has already rated us in the top 20 schools globally for the quality of our Executive
MBA (see P6). WBS ranks second in the UK for teaching and contact hours in new research by the Higher
Education Policy Institute and it is no accident that WBS was ranked as the best overall undergraduate
business education provider in the UK by The Times in 2006. While we take time to celebrate we are reminded
of the words of the late Peter Doyle, Professor of Marketing and Strategy, ‘success builds success.’
And so it is my challenge as we look to the future to ensure that this success continues to grow. Our priorities
for the year ahead include maintaining a strong and dynamic research focus in preparation for the 2008
Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) (in the last RAE WBS was one of only three schools in the UK to be
given the highest 5* ranking), to build on our position in rankings and league tables through high quality
standards, to continue to look for alternative sources of funding to ensure that lack of resources is not a
barrier to our success, and of course, to celebrate our successes to date and engage the alumni community
in supporting WBS in its future endeavours.
I ask every one of you to tell the WBS story wherever you can and encourage you to come back to Warwick in
2007 (see calendar on centre pages 16/17 for opportunities or contact alumni@wbs.ac.uk). I hope that you
look back on your time here with as much warmth and enthusiasm as I do on mine so far, and it is with that
dynamism, energy and entrepreneurial ambition we want to embark on the next 40 years.
Howard Thomas
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4. 4 nexus: spring 07 research review
It is well-known 2007 and disseminate the findings through
that small firms conference and refereed journals.
are more likely to A questionnaire has been developed which
face Employment was pre-tested last year. With a better
Tribunal (ET) claims understanding of the attitudes of academics
than large ones, and about global accounting standards, standard
raw figures suggest setters and regulatory bodies might be able to
that they tend to promote these standards more effectively to
Paul Edwards IRRU lose cases that reach Shahed Imam and Zulfiqar Shah: AFIN countries (and universities) that currently do
tribunals. New not adopt them.’
research by the Industrial Relations Research Dr Shahed Imam, Assistant Professor in
Unit at WBS shows that small firms are not in Accounting, and colleague Dr Zulfiqar ‘The views and insights from academics will
fact disadvantaged if they follow appropriate Shah, are conducting research on ‘The be useful for the practitioners to recognise to
disciplinary procedures. Global Accounting Standards and its impact on what extent and how their expectations from
academic curriculum’. This global accounting the university graduates are being met. They
The researchers found that a key influence on standard convergence is expected to have will also be helpful to their colleagues in the
success at a tribunal was having procedures in major implications for the way in which universities who are considering integrating
place and actually using them. Simply having accounting is undertaken in practice and these into their curriculum. We believe this
procedures, or an HR department, made no accounting is taught in universities. study will have a global impact in accounting
difference in itself. Small firms are the least and business education.’
likely to have and to follow procedures, and According to Shahed, ‘We are aiming to
it is this fact and not the size of the firm conduct a survey of academics in early W www.wbs.ac.uk/faculty/subjects/acc.cfm
which is key. An absence of procedures means
that problems are not resolved within the 'Customer service in local government: learning
firm, and that a claim to an ET may be an for the future'.
employee's only recourse. Commentators also
suggest that the small firm is disadvantaged Howard says, ‘Our research aims to examine
as cases proceed through the 'pipeline' from through case studies the adoption in local
claim to tribunal. The research found no government of customer service strategies,
evidence of this. Dropping out of the pipeline systems and practices originally developed
at various stages was not related to the size of for the private sector and consider the
the firm. Howard Davis and Katrina Ritters: LGC evidence of their effectiveness, upon
which similar cross-fertilisation could be
Professor Paul Edwards, Industrial Relations Howard Davis, Principal Research Fellow undertaken in the future. The research
Research Unit, states, 'small firms have the and Research Manager, Local Government involves working with a total of eleven local
benefit of being able to handle employment Centre (LGC) and Katrina Ritters, Senior authorities and recognises the value of
relations issues informally, but informality Research Associate, addressed a session at customer service transfers in both directions
can be an excuse for a lack of professionalism. the annual conference of the Institute of (from public sector to private, and from
Formal procedures do not need to be complex Customer Service (ICS) in October. The ICS private to public).
or bureaucratic, but they must be consistent is the professional body for customer service,
and fair. Proper procedures help to avoid ET with members drawn from across the private, Our interim findings show customer
cases'. public and voluntary sectors. service is most successful where it is seen
as a vehicle for cultural change across
The research is based on statistical analysis This major gathering seeks to provoke new the authority as a whole; but it requires
of the 2003 Survey of Employment Tribunal ideas in the delivery of outstanding investment, drive and commitment for its
Applications, which provides a representative customer service. The conference theme benefits to be fully realised.’
sample of ET cases. was 'Raising customer service standards for
W www.wbs.ac.uk/faculty/research/irru.cfm the 21st century' and their session was titled W www.wbs.ac.uk/faculty/research/lgc.cfm
Professor Andrew managing projects and getting the job becomes that of implementation, typically
Sturdy, Professor of done. Consultants are typically seen as still the preserve of managers more than
Industrial Relations organisational and knowledge outsiders, consultants.’ These and other findings are
& Organisational bringing ideas and techniques new to their the outcome of a three year in-depth study of
Behaviour, has clients. However, prospective commissioning consultancy projects combined with a survey
recently completed a clients are unlikely to welcome consultants of the annual Management Consultancies
research project that if their knowledge is ‘too new’. Also, the Association (MCA) competition entrants.
Andrew Sturdy IROB reveals new insights clients consultants work with are often very The project, ‘Knowledge evolution in action:
into the world of knowledgeable themselves, sometimes with consultancy-client relationships’ was carried
consulting, especially its role in the spread of similar backgrounds and education to the out by researchers from a number of UK
management knowledge. consultants.’ universities as part of a programme of
research – ‘The evolution of business knowledge’
As Andrew explains, ‘The image of ‘The real outsiders then, become those clients funded by the government’s Economic and
management consultants as experts – the not working in the project team. This includes Social Research Council (ESRC).
shock troops of the latest approach to the most senior management and the rest of
management – doesn’t match their day- the client organisation. This is important as Further information, including copies of
to-day work with clients. Knowledge it means consultants are not as innovative as a summary report, is available. E andrew.
transfer is often not a priority as clients is often thought. But this can help in their sturdy@wbs.ac.uk W www.ebkresearch.org
and consultants are more concerned with role as knowledge brokers. The main barrier
5. research review nexus: spring 07 5
efficiency. In a project funded by the Scottish satisfaction and confidence, and embedding
Executive, the WBS team investigated eight a continuous improvement culture. The scale
case examples and three pilot studies of the of these changes can be substantial, with
implementation of Lean thinking in public waiting times or throughput times halving as
sector organisations as well as surveying a consequence of the adoption of Lean.
many other organisations. The applications
included parts of the National Health Service, However this is not about a quick fix. ’The
Local Government services and Government research recommends a steady process of
Zoe Radnor and Paul Walley: OM Agencies. implementation,’ says Paul. ‘We suggest
many organisations are not ready to adopt
Research by Dr Zoe Radnor, Senior Lecturer, Public sector use of Lean generated a number Lean immediately, as they do not possess
and Paul Walley (MBA 87–8), Lecturer, of outcomes. These included improvements the change management experience or the
Operations Management Group, has found in customer waiting times, service right leadership style to make the transition
that the methods employed by Toyota, to performance, processing times, customer straight away,’ confirms Zoe.
make their production system ‘Lean’, can flow and quality; achieving more for less;
be applied to public sector services. This generating a better understanding of the For a full copy of the report visit
could have a positive impact on employee process; better joined-up working; improved W www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/0
morale, customer satisfaction and process use of performance data; increased staff 6/13162106/15
contents
focus on global community 9 17
4–7 WBS news
8 the strategic sales organisation
Professor Nigel Piercy
9 sweet success
Natasha Aggarwal
10 examining the global economy
Professor Colin Crouch
11 leading the field
Jasni Mohamed
12–13 UK event review
14–15 2007 event calendar
16 overseas event reviews 20–21 27
17 that’s edutainment!
Joanna Hotung
18–19 coping with the threat
Professor David Wilson & Dr Bridgette Sullivan-Taylor
20–21 african connection
Ian Ferrao & Alex Simuyandi
22 WBS alumni board
23 WBS development programme
24 WBSS update and DLMBA tutors
25 in the media and hot off the press
26–27 alumni news
Front cover: Frozen Sky
Installed in the atrium of WBS Scarman Road, Frozen Sky, designed
by Langlands & Bell, is a sculpture of moving neon. The 45 three
letter acronyms are the codes used by the air transport authorities to
identify destinations around the world.
contact details Pam Barnes Caroline Hughes Tracy Lynch In-house photography by John Weatherly
Alumni Publications Officer Alumni Relations Executive Alumni & Development
Alumni Association t +44 (0)24 7652 4396 t +44 (0)24 7652 8487 Office Manager nexus is the magazine of the Alumni
Warwick Business School e pam.barnes@wbs.ac.uk E caroline.hughes@wbs.ac.uk T + 44 (0)24 7657 5835 Association, Warwick Business School
University of Warwick E tracy.lynch@wbs.ac.uk T +44 (0)24 7652 4306
Coventry CV4 7AL Sue Cresswell & Emma Emily Jamieson & Paul Snow,
The views contained in nexus are those of
United Kingdom Brandon-Jones Development & Alumni Nathalie Walker
contributors and not necessarily those of Warwick
t +44 (0)24 7652 2813 Events Coordinators Relations Assistants Head of Alumni Relations Business School or the University of Warwick
f +44 (0)24 7652 3719 t +44 (0)24 7657 3967 T +44 (0)24 7652 2813 T +44 (0)24 7652 4176
E alumni@wbs.ac.uk T +44 (0)24 7615 0171 E emily.jamieson@wbs.ac.uk E nathalie.walker@wbs.ac.uk Design by Morse-Brown Design
W www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni e sue.cresswell@wbs.ac.uk E paul.snow@wbs.ac.uk w www.morsebrowndesign.co.uk
E emma.brandon-jones
@wbs.ac.uk
6. 6 nexus: spring 07 global community WBS news
the big move
October saw completion of the £9m Phase 3 Stage 1 of the WBS
Scarman Road building and the first occupants start to move in.
Students were seen making use of the fantastic new facilities and
next to move were faculty and support staff, who soon settled into
their brand new offices. The full-time MBA team relocated and all
MBAs are now taught in and around the MBA Teaching Centre in
WBS Scarman Road.
The former MBA Teaching Centre adjacent to Radcliffe House is
now used by the PhD programme and for Specialist Masters’ teach-
ing. Groups from Social Studies have also now relocated to WBS
Scarman Road Phase 2. The Alumni team is to be found on the
third floor in Phase 3, rooms C3.22, C3.23 and C3.25
latest rankings
WBS’ Executive MBA (EMBA) programme has been judged to be in
the top 10 in the world and top 3 in Europe of single school
providers, in a Financial Times survey published in October.
The annual survey aims to rank the world’s top providers and WBS
is the top UK school outside London.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual Which MBA? Guide, awards
announced its full-time MBA ranking results for the world’s top
100 business schools in October. WBS has retained its high placing, Robin Wensley, Professor of Policy and Marketing, Director of
coming in 31st position. The top 100 represent one percent of all ESRC/EPSRC AIM Research Initiative was recently presented with
the world’s business schools, giving a true indication of the stature an Award of Life Membership of the UK Academy of Marketing
of the School. WBS undergraduate degrees Accounting & Finance ‘in recognition of extraordinary and distinguished services to
and Business Studies were again ranked in the top 3 in The Times marketing’ at the Annual Conference Dinner of the Academy in
Good University Guide. The University of Warwick retained its 8th London.
position this year.
Val Gooding CBE (BA French Studies 68–71) Chief Executive of
New research by the Higher Education Policy Institute shows that BUPA and Co-chair of WBS Advisory Board, received a PwC Lifetime
WBS is in the top two UK business departments for teaching and Achievement Award at the 2006 CBI Real Business First Women
contact hours. Awards. The awards recognise women who are pioneers in business
and whose achievements have helped to remove barriers and open
The contribution by current students and alumni to our ranking up opportunities for others to follow. Val is also a lay member of the
performances through participation in media surveys is hugely University of Warwick’s Council.
appreciated by staff at WBS and the wider university.
multimedia project sponsorship
Since the last issue, WBS podcasts have been a great success. Selected events at WBS are opportunities
recorded on high quality digital video, edited and posted on the web site as a video file,
converted into audio files for podcasts and burnt onto DVD to send to anyone who wants
a high quality copy. Don’t miss the opportunity to tap into a
pool of immense talent and potential. By
Over recent months we have recorded press conferences; guest lectures including WBS choosing to sponsor a project for students
forum presentations from Peter Davies (BA Economics 69-72) Chief Economist for BP: Tim on one of WBS Masters programmes,
Kelly (BA Philosophy & Politics 76-9) Chief Operating Officer at RHM plc, Henri Winand organisations enjoy several benefits.
(EXMBA 99-03) Chief Executive, Intelligent Energy, former Chairman WBS Alumni Board; W www.wbs.ac.uk/faculty/consultancy/
Anne Gunther (MBA 89-91) Chief Executive, Standard Life Bank, WBS Advisory Board
member; posted a podcast by Dr Bridget Woodman on renewable energy and recorded • The MSOR and MSISM projects
the MBA/Specialist Masters’ summer graduation evening will be held on
lunch and graduation ball. Monday 29 January
‘This has proven to be a great • The Warwick MBA projects
tool for external and internal evening will be held on
communications,’ confirms Wednesday 7 February
WBS Director of Communications,
Vincent Hammersley. For further details contact
W www.wbs.ac.uk/news/podcasts/ E alumni@wbs.ac.uk
7. WBS news nexus: spring 07 global community 7
Two top WBS graduates were awarded
prizes for their excellent work on marketing
during their final year of study. Emma
Birch, 21, from St Austell in Cornwall,
and Lisa Davies, 22, from Pontypridd in
Wales, graduated in July with a BSc in
Management.
Emma won the Fujitsu Best Marketing
Student Award, sponsored by Fujitsu
Services. Their Commercial Marketing
Director, Ian Hunter, who organised the
sponsorship this year, coincidentally
summertime for graduation started his business career with a BSc in
Management Sciences from WBS in 1982.
Hong Kong graduates
Sunny skies greeted WBS graduands Lisa won the Star Chamber Award
attending the Summer Graduation for the best student in Marketing
ceremonies at the University of Warwick Communications, given by the Chief dean visits Hong Kong
on Tuesday 11 and Friday 14 July. Executive of The Star Chamber, John
Wringe, who regularly delivers lectures to and China
The School hosted a buffet lunch for the students at WBS.
graduates, their families and friends, in a Dean Howard Thomas visited Hong Kong
luxurious marquee sited by the lake at the and China in November on his first visit
side of WBS Scarman Road. Conversation to this region as Dean of WBS. During
flowed over lunch to the accompaniment his stay in Hong Kong he spoke at the
of music by The Melodia String Quartet on DLMBA anniversary celebration lunch
Tuesday and The Zenith Hot Stompers jazz and academic update, alongside Professor
band on Friday. Prizes were presented and Colin Carnall, Associate Dean for Executive
an excellent time was had by all. Education. (See P16). He also presented
certificates to graduands.
Howard Thomas, the Dean of WBS
congratulated all the graduates on their Dean Thomas commented, ‘After my visit
achievements and wished them every to Hong Kong, I spoke at the CEIBS (China
success in the future. Nathalie Walker, Europe International Business School)
Head of Alumni Relations, welcomed them Conference on Leading China’s Future,
as members of the WBS Alumni Association Future Chinese Leaders. It was my great
– a network of around 20,000 former prize-winning students pleasure to be representing WBS at such an
students in 121 different countries. esteemed event.’
40th anniversary celebrations
����� Throughout email updates, so please ensure your details guided tours of campus, family friendly
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�� 2007 why not re- are correct by returning the enclosed activities, light-hearted lectures and a
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engage with WBS, update form or visiting garden party style lunch by the lake. Full
meet with fellow w www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni details will be available online soon.
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graduates and enjoy
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the opportunities Academic update series: WBS has one If you are keen to track down former
���������� on offer through of the largest faculties of any European classmates use the online directory at
our comprehensive business school and throughout 2007 we w www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni/networking.cfm
events programme. will be showcasing their work in a series of e alumni.wbs.ac.uk
academic updates. On 10 March, the first
WBS is proud to boast one of the most will focus on 21st century management. A global community: On 15 November
active alumni programmes of any UK Full details are online and booking is we aim to unite the WBS community
business school and in our celebratory now open. around the globe by encouraging
year there are several key opportunities to w www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni/forthcoming.cfm alumni wherever they are to have dinner
engage with alumni, faculty and friends together or meet for drinks. If you would
of the School. Details are online at Campus celebrations: In July we hope to like to get involved in organising a
w www.wbs.ac.uk/40 reunite many WBS graduates with each gathering, or need help reuniting your
other and with campus. The Summer Ball classmates, email alumni@wbs.ac.uk to
Events are also listed in the calendar takes place on Friday 20 July (this year register your interest. Members of faculty
on P14/15. Online booking is already will see a 1960s theme – thinking back to will be travelling to places with large
available for many events and the founding years of WBS!) On Saturday concentrations of alumni and all events
throughout the year you will receive 21 July, enjoy tours of the WBS facilities, will receive an events support package.
8. 8 nexus: spring 07 global community
the strategic sales organisation
Professor Nigel F Piercy, Marketing & Strategic Management, describes some of the themes of his latest research.
S ales, strategic account management
and customer business development all
describe the ‘front-end’ of an organisation,
approaches (emphasising sales management
intervention to enhance and sustain the
quality of selling activities in developing
that there are major strategic weaknesses in
the way in which many of these approaches
have been implemented. These revolve
where it meets its customers and markets. long-term customer relationships). Projects around the real attractiveness of increasing
This process is a major focus for companies in this area include the publication of a investment in the least profitable and most
aiming at enhancing productivity and major synthesis of control theory in the powerful customers a company has, based
building superior customer relationships. sales area in the US Journal of Personal Selling on exaggerated claims for customer loyalty
Yet, in spite of the practical importance, & Sales Management. and the benefits of inter-organisational
the transformation taking place here has ‘partnerships’ in the value chain.
received very limited attention in business Empirical studies have extended the
school research and teaching. examination of behaviour-control models We have set these reservations out in articles
into international markets, leading to an in the Journal of Business Strategy and the
The many relevant research questions article published in the USA managerial European Management Journal. Further, we
raised are the focus of the Sales and Account journal Organisational Dynamics. This paper have become concerned with the ethical
Management Strategy (SAMS) research unit tests behaviour-control/sales performance and moral dilemmas created for executives
at WBS, headed by Nigel Piercy and Nikala relationships in studies in the UK, Austria, by key account strategy and have made the
Lane, and working with research partners Bahrain, Greece, Israel, Malaysia, Nigeria, case for greater attention to these issues in a
in business schools in the United States and and Saudi Arabia. We find that the control paper forthcoming in the Journal of Business
Europe. A related development has been model appears to be valid in diverse Ethics. While these contributions are
the establishment of the Sales and Strategic contexts, though extreme differences in controversial, we think they are important
Customer Management (SSCM) practitioner culture, political stability and economic balances to the apparent and widely-
network, to link research directly to development undermine its validity. There advocated attractions of collaborative
practice in major organisations. Over the are important practical implications for strategic account relationships between
last year, there have been several themes companies globalising their customer buyers and sellers.
to the research thrust in strategic sales and management operations.
account management at Warwick, which In each of these research themes, key
can be summarised as follows. Another project in the control area publications are available from the authors
examines the links between salesperson on request, and further detail of the SAMS
The Strategic Sales Organisation organisational citizenship behaviour research programme can be found on
The mandate for the strategic management and performance, and particularly the
of customers as assets leads us to identify impact of sales manager control approach W www.sams.org.uk
several imperatives for the strategising of on salesperson perceived organisational
the traditional tactical or operational sales support and citizenship behaviour. Our
function: involvement of sales leadership in study adds insight into a number of issues
strategy development and the management underpinning superior sales performance the author in minute
of the customer portfolio; intelligence which have not been previously examined.
from the sales organisation providing This work has been presented to a number Following posts
the basis for building and sustaining of management audiences and published in retailing and in
competitive advantage; integration across in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing business planning with
functions and partners to deliver superior Science in the USA earlier this year. Nycomed Amersham,
value seamlessly to customers; internal Nigel was the Sir
Julian Hodge Chair in
marketing by sales executives to ‘sell’ the The next phase of the control studies Marketing and Strategy
customer to the organisation, as well as is concerned with managerial control at Cardiff University,
to sell the company to the customer; and competencies, using data from a large and lately Professor of
infrastructural change in sales and account study of UK sales managers. Early findings Strategic Marketing and
management processes and systems. These underline the large impact of manager Head of the Marketing
Group at Cranfield School of Management. He
‘6Is’of sales organisation transformation competencies on sales unit performance, has held visiting posts at Columbia School of
have been presented to several management and the negative effects of lower levels Business, New York; Fuqua School of Business,
audiences as a framework for change, and of competencies on manager stress, Duke University; Texas Christian University; the
have provided keynote publications in The motivation and performance. We will be University of California, Berkeley; and the Vienna
Marketing Review and the Journal of Change publishing the results of this work over the University of Economics.
Management. next few months. He has global experience in executive education
and management development with leading
Sales Management Control Key and Strategic Account Management companies. Nigel has published more than
A central research question in sales Strategic account management approaches 200 books and articles in Europe and the USA.
He is currently editor of the Journal of Strategic
management concerns the move from by suppliers to handle relationships with
Marketing.
traditional outcome-based approaches very important customers have been widely
to controlling sales efforts (emphasising recommended and increasingly adopted by
financial incentives) to behaviour-based companies. However, our research suggests
9. nexus: spring 07 global community 9
sweet success
When Natasha Aggarwal (BSc Management Sciences 01–4) graduated from WBS, she returned to India to set
up Mama Mia! – a brand of premium Italian ice-cream or ‘gelato’ shops. Here she explains how WBS played a
significant role in her success.
The idea of Mama Mia! was conceived while
I was in my last year at Warwick. I came
across the concept of Italian gelato while
backpacking with friends in Rome.
The product differs from regular ice-cream
being low in fat (the cream gelato is 96% fat
free and fruit sorbet 100% fat free), made
with natural ingredients and fruit pulp
imported from various parts of the world
and made fresh daily in small batches.
Seeing a gap in the premium segment of the
ice-cream industry in India and the growing
trend towards healthy eating and low fat, I
felt there was scope for exploiting this niche.
After graduation, I arranged for some
training with a chef in Italy to learn about
making gelato and its various technicalities.
I spent a month in an Italian gelato factory,
gaining hands-on experience. From a
business school graduate with a prestigious
degree, I was now a chef! This was a joke
among many of my friends and fellow
students who failed to understand why I
would forgo a high salaried job in some Natasha Aggarwal
investment bank or Wall Street company to
‘open a little ice-cream shop.’
unexposed life. However, the experience entrepreneur is not easy. Every step has its
The first Mama Mia! shop was set up in of living independently and making my share of unforeseen problems, pressure, risk
my hometown of Calcutta in May 2005. own decisions, the opportunities given and emotional stress. Initially, the main
Initially I was playing the dual role of chef to me while running various societies, challenge I faced was getting people to take
and salesgirl – making the ice-cream in the including WBSS, attending training and me seriously as my age often worked against
morning and selling it in the afternoon and skill workshops and most importantly, the me. For the first four months I was working
evening. The response was overwhelming interaction with such a diverse international seven days a week, selling ice-cream and
and totally unexpected. Today, just over a community, have all contributed in clearing tables till midnight, while everyone
year later, Mama Mia! is a national chain, developing my confidence, broad vision else was out having fun. Today, my life
boasting 14 shops across Mumbai, Bangalore and ambition and turned me into a person is hectic with tiring travel schedules and
and Calcutta with other cities in the willing to face challenges in life. solving a new challenge each day. Dealing
pipeline. Having started off with only three with competitors and their sly tactics has
employees, there is now a team of around The knowledge and skills learnt from my taught me that there is no place for ‘good
80, comprising employees, franchisees and course at WBS have played a significant role guys’ in today’s business world. Each day is
business partners. in my success so far. The various theories, a learning experience, that makes me wiser
cases and strategy in Marketing have and smarter.
Success is about ‘not following the path brought me a long way; as have efficient
but setting the trail yourself’. This was management of operations learnt in This is just the beginning and there is a long
the underlying message I received during Operations Management, the challenging way to go for Mama Mia! Further expansion
my years at WBS, be it through academic task of dealing with people taught in plans and ongoing marketing, innovation
courses, professors and tutors, colleagues or Organisational Behaviour lectures; the first and improvement to strengthen the brand
friends. I believed that this new concept or step of writing a business plan and seeking are the prime focus. On a personal note,
idea, combined with the right marketing, finance that Entrepreneurship taught me; I only want to grow to the point where I
branding and positioning, could generate and of course, investing the company profits enjoy my work and can balance my life. The
tremendous results. wisely, from Finance. day work becomes pressure and is no fun,
it just isn’t worth it.
WBS played a large part in my I do have to say that, in reality, things do
transformation. I was a quiet, shy girl from not always go according to business school W www.mamamiaindia.com
India, having lived a very protected and theories. As exciting as it sounds, being an e natasha@mamamiaindia.com
10. 10 nexus: spring 07 global community
examining the global economy
Professor Colin Crouch, Chair of WBS Institute of Governance and Public Management, explains the findings of
the OECD report Competitive cities in the global economy.
W hat used to be a paradox has become
a cliché: globalisation implies
localisation. There are two sides to this
Capitals, together with
a small number of other
more overall harm than good.
Large urban structures are expensive to
maintain. They generate high congestion
process. Firstly, as global firms acquire a very prominent cities, are costs, and large agglomerations of people
certain ability to pick and choose their and activities usually inflict environmental
locations, they tend to reach similar becoming increasingly damage. Levels of social segregation,
conclusions to each other about the best linked with each other, including along ethnic lines, are high,
places to put certain activities: for example, creating tension and an obsession with
advanced pharmaceuticals tend to go to
creating a family of global security. Is there a choice between economic
San Francisco or Munich. Far from localities cities that house similar dynamism and having a liveable city?
all coming to resemble each other as ranges of governmental Multi-national firms usually want both, as
globalisation smoothes out differences, the they seek pleasant environments for their
opposite often takes place. Secondly, as city and corporate headquarters headquarters’ staff. Governments wanting to
and regional policy makers realise what firms activities, as well as major attract these activities are strongly tempted
are doing, they try to develop the unique to concentrate major cultural, sporting and
selling points of their areas in order to attract cultural events... This is infrastructural projects in what they regard
them. where dynamism is as their key cities, particularly capitals, at the
expense of other parts of the country.
The result is a sorting process. Some
concentrated; this is the
parts do indeed have their characteristics global community. Tackling these issues creatively requires a
smoothed out as they become caught capacity for strategy at the level of the whole
in a downward spiral to attract inward urban agglomeration, but there is rarely
investment competing on cost alone. Others, in these because of their proximity to a tier of government at this level, these
more fortunate, are developing niches of important policymakers and the usually regions sprawling across local government
distinctive advantage. One consequence of superior qualities of their physical and boundaries. Whether this requires a reform
this is a shift of population to a relatively cultural infrastructure and transport of local and regional government structure
small group of rapidly growing cities and connections. Capitals, together with a or the creation of ad hoc authorities for
regions. small number of other very prominent specific region-wide functions is the main
cities, are also becoming increasingly issue of governance and public management
A new report from the Organisation for linked with each other, creating a family now being presented by these major by-
Economic Co-Operation and Development of global cities that house similar ranges of products of the global economy.
(OECD) – Competitive cities in the global governmental and corporate headquarters
economy – draws attention to the 78 largest activities, as well as major cultural events.
such urban agglomerations among its They are densely linked by air routes and the author in minute
member states – broadly the 32 richest other communications channels, and they
nations in the world. While a small number house the world’s increasingly mobile and Professor Colin Crouch,
of these, mainly in central Europe, have Chair of WBS Institute
multi-residential wealthy elites. This is where
of Governance and
been declining, the majority have been dynamism is concentrated; this is the global Public Management,
growing faster than their surrounding community. was academic advisor
countries, and are often the points at which to the OECD team
economic growth and dynamism are most But it is a glittering community with a dark who produced the
concentrated. side. The OECD report raises questions report Competitive
cities in the global
surrounding these less attractive aspects, economy. Colin was
Most of these heavily urbanised and poses the dilemmas presented by previously Professor
metropolitan regions have populations the confrontation between them and of Comparative Social
between 1.5 and 7 million. A group of larger the gains that dynamic metropolitan Institutions at the
ones, including those around London and regions represent. For example, is heavy European University
Institute, Florence. He has also held positions
Paris, concentrate around 7 to 12 million. concentration of dynamic activities at LSE and Oxford. Chairman of The Political
Finally there are some ‘mega-cities’, such a cause of growth in itself, or just its Quarterly, and past President of the Society for
as Mexico City and New York (19 million), consequence? If the former, these areas the Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE).
Seoul (23 million) and Tokyo (34 million). need to be encouraged, as other regions Colin is a Fellow of the British Academy and
of their countries will gain from the tax External Scientific member of the Max Planck
Institute for Social Research at Cologne.
Available data does not yet allow us to revenues generated in the growth engines
generalise about these regions, and indeed and from various trickle-down effects. But if Research interests: structure of European societies,
they are not all developing in the same way. the increasing size of large cities is simply a with special reference to labour market, gender
Prominent among them are areas based consequence of their being favoured, their and family issues; economic sociology; neo-
on capital cities. The footloose activities of tendency to attract capital and talented institutional analysis; local economic development
and public service reform.
the post-industrial economy concentrate workers away from other regions may do
11. nexus: spring 07 global community 11
leading the field
Jasni Mohamed (BSc Accounting & Financial Analysis 90–3), Co-Founder and Managing Director of
Sportswork Group, gives us an insight into the world of sports marketing.
I n essence, sports marketing is both sports
products marketed to sports consumers
as well as consumer or industrial products
The first hurdle was the lack of track record
as a company; even with the wealth of
experience the respective individuals
or services using sport as a marketing brought to the company. This is where our
platform. Sports marketing in the USA reliance on networking skill was at its most
and Europe developed greatly after the critical. This was down to securing the first
‘Reaganomics’ of the ‘80s and formation of project, which thankfully began within
the European Community single market/ our first year, handling the Badminton
currency in the ‘90s. It effectively generated Association of Malaysia.
economic growth to both regions.
Since sports marketing is still in its infancy
The growth created intense competition in this region, our second challenge
where companies were forced to find is to manage the level of expectation
alternative methods of communication with our clients. They know what to
in order to achieve the required expect from advertising agencies, but
differentiation. This heralded the birth of not sports marketing agencies. This
Sportswork four years ago in Malaysia. particular challenge is a balancing act of Jasni Mohamed
understanding our clients’ business, inter-
personal skills, encouraging teamwork,
Our company’s philosophy enhancing motivation, time-management, She immediately woke us up by questioning
is to aggregate expertise creativity and service delivery systems. our intent in attending University; was it
to pass exams or were we there to learn?
and enhance our skill set to The third challenge is people management Unfortunately, it was in my third year and it
provide thought leadership within the company. Our end objective was too late to mend my ways!
is to develop human capital and for team
in terms of advice to our members to feel they are constantly In the context of Malaysia, business schools
clients. There have been many learning and contributing to the growth of from the USA remain top with a handful
the company, as well as themselves. We like of European schools outside the Top Ten.
challenges over the past four to meet the team members individually on As a young upstart, there is still room for
years and we have had to a regular basis to discuss their objectives in improvement for WBS. The graduates are
develop the relevant skill sets the company and life in general to see if we proud to be associated with WBS and are
are able to assist in any way. aggressive in promoting its pedigree, but it
to manage them. needs time to seed the global community
Lastly, the challenge for me professionally with more WBS graduates and reinforce it
in managing a fledgling company is with strong local alumni entities.
The company was started by three people keeping focused on the company’s
from different but complementary objectives and not to stray too far away e jasni@sportswork.net
backgrounds; advertising, media sales from the core business. Currently housing
& television production, and sports a total of 12 employees, the company’s
marketing. The founding partners of revenue has tripled in the past four
Sportswork believe that sport is the years. Among Sportswork’s list of clients the author in minute
future growth industry in this part of the include Malaysia’s largest bank and
world. Armed with a combined working telecommunications companies. Jasni is currently Co-Founder & MD of
experience of over 30 years, it provided Sportswork Group, based in Kuala Lumpur.
the best mix of expertise to create a sports Studying at a top university like Warwick Sportswork is a sports marketing company
taught me how to think analytically. specialising in sponsorship consultancy,
marketing start-up. As managing director, sports television production, sports event
I was tasked with managing finances, A skill honed during lectures as well as management, public relations, and sports
setting the company direction and through rigorous intellectual discourse personality management.
formulating the services to offer. with lecturers, fellow students and friends
at the university outside classes. In my After tenure in the investment banking world
as a stepping stone, Jasni created a niche for
Our company’s philosophy is to aggregate opinion, WBS provided a valuable platform
himself in the sports marketing arena. He has
expertise and enhance our skill set to to harness our thought processes by being subsequently worked on numerous ventures
provide thought leadership in terms of among people of high intellect. One advising on the conceptualisation, organisation
advice to our clients. There have been moment that has stuck with me is Joan and management of events, sponsorship
Ballantine in one of our Financial Reporting consulting, television packaging, as well as
many challenges over the past four years
athlete management. His work experience has
and we have had to develop the relevant lectures where student participation left a included working in IMG, and Grey Worldwide.
skill sets to manage them. lot to be desired.
12. 12
12
UK event reviews
regional groups roundup SIGs
Informal networking in 2007 will see a continuation of regional Our alumni Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are now well established
group social events with at least two events in the South West, and members get together in a variety of ways: from blogs and
Oxford, Midlands and London – First Friday. Activities take the form forums, through teleconferencing to face to face events. All the
of evening drinks and often dinner in a city-based pub or bar and all SIGs are volunteer-led and we would not be able to run them
WBS graduates and students are welcome to come along. without the commitment of our volunteers – thank you all. SIGs
exist in the following areas:
Group events throughout 2006 were well attended and a big vote
of thanks must go to our group coordinators who have worked Entrepreneurship Brand management
very hard to make things happen. Two of our regional coordinators Public & Voluntary sector network Telecoms
are stepping down this year: Alex Clark (MBA 00–1) Oxford Group
and Rob McCulloch (BA Management Sciences 72–5) North West If you are keen to get involved in any of our groups or would
group. Our thanks to Alex and Rob for their sterling service in the like to find out more, then please contact Caroline Hughes
interests of gathering WBS alumni together to network and talk E Caroline.Hughes@wbs.ac.uk or visit the website at
about old times. W www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni/networking_groups.cfm
new SIG: aerospace
new in 2007
WBS alumnus and Alumni Board member Nick Jessett (EXMBA
WBS alumni regional dinners coming 85–9) is keen to set up an Aerospace SIG for interested WBA alumni
and students. Suggested activities include: face to face events
to a city near you! with guest speakers, networking, sharing experiences and regular
communication via an online forum. We are gauging interest at
Based on our very successful regional group model, these events are this stage – if you would like to be part of an aerospace group or
for alumni who can’t usually make it to one of the regular regional would like to help run it please contact Caroline Hughes
group meetings, either because they live too far away or because the (see above).
timings don’t work.
These one-off dinners are an
Reading 22 February
yes minister Reviewed by alumnus Derrick Dyas (MPA 02–4)
opportunity for you to meet with
other WBS alumni living in your The Institute of Governance & Public Management (IGPM) series
Peterborough 13 March
area and to find out about what is of ‘conversations’ between academics, key senior managers and
happening at WBS. A member of Leeds 24 April strategists continued in November, with a frank and insightful
WBS faculty or doctoral researcher presentation from Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head
will be present at each dinner, Milton Keynes 15 May of the Home Civil Service. An economist by profession, Sir Gus
along with staff from the Alumni described his efforts to address issues of performance in the Civil
Office to keep you up to date with Cardiff 26 June Service through professionalism, pride, passion and pace – concepts
news from WBS and to answer any not always associated with the public sector.
questions. All dinners will start Manchester 4 September
at 6.30pm for drinks followed by In his view it is a mistake to confuse the Service’s impartiality for
Southampton 18 September
dinner at 7.30pm. Venues will be lack of passion, which must exist when working with hard to reach
advertised closer to the time and Edinburgh 10 October groups and delivering social programmes to improve people’s life
the dates are as shown. chances. The image of the gifted amateur should be replaced by
that of highly committed professionals that are part of a diverse
Civil Service, have equality of esteem with their more managerial
colleagues, and are prepared to develop their professionalism into
would you like to organise wider strategic and joined up thinking.
a regional event? Trust in the State, Sir Gus revealed, is pretty low but trust in the
Civil Service had seen growth in recent years – especially for the
Would you like to volunteer to organise a regional event? uniformed sector and those
We are currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to organise in contact with the public.
events for 2007 in London, Oxford and the South West. Hosting an It was good to see his ‘Model
event involves: of Public Service Reform’
encompassed frontline user
• securing a suitable central city venue, without extra cost and feedback, after considerable
preferably with a separate area that can be used for WBS alumni effort and capability reviews,
• letting us know the details (always a 6.30pm start) whilst the quest of the Cabinet
• arriving at the beginning and staying until the end of the evening Office – to make Government
• chatting to people attending the event and introducing them to Professors Jean Hartley and work better and more flexibly
other alumni. John Benington with – is being taken up across all
Sir Gus O’Donnell (right) departments.
13. 13
13
UK event reviews
On a beautiful sunny evening in July, the popular WBS Summer
007 @ WBS Ball had a James Bond theme. Graduates and guests came dressed
to kill and posed for photographs by the silver Aston Martin, then
adjourned to the patio overlooking the lake to sip dry martinis
(shaken not stirred), joined by WBS faculty and staff.
The marquee interior was decked out in dramatic black and gold,
with guests seated at tables denoted by Bond characters, from
Dr No to Scaramanga. After an excellent dinner, Professor Bob
Johnston entertained everyone with his anecdotes. His speech
was followed by a special moment, when the WBS MBA Sailing
team displayed the trophies awarded for their successes in the
MBA Cup and the Global MBA Trophy.
Then the fun really got underway with the Casino Royale roulette
and blackjack tables and a Bond shoot out game. A big hit was the
vodka luge – 007’s signature Walther PPK gun crafted in ice that
delivered shots of vodka. The Dr Teeth Big Band were followed by
a disco which kept guests on the dance floor until the early hours.
What a night!
W www.photoboxgallery.com/digiquick_sales
20th anniversary dinner WBS-Detica city series
Review by Reviewed by Toby Cross (DLMBA 01–6)
Clive Rahn
(DLMBA 98–03) WBS City events are always guaranteed to generate some lively
debate and offer some biting insight and the first WBS-Detica event
Has the course in November did not disappoint on either count. Delegates were
really been going shocked by an insight into cutting edge criminal detection systems
for that long? with Dr David C Porter of Detica speaking on Combatting fraud
The 20th and organised crime within your company. This was demonstrated
Anniversary event graphically by sophisticated network analysis highlighting
brought me up to anomalies amongst the millions of electronic transactions that we
date with changes in the DLMBA programme and WBS. Sue Beech, engage in on a daily basis.
Programme Manager for the Warwick MBA by distance learning,
described how the course had evolved over its 20 years. I finished my This uncomfortable view of reality was followed by a glimpse of the
MBA in 2003 so I bridged some of the biggest changes: the increased darker side of strategy, with a preview of research into the strategic
use of the internet as a teaching medium, and the development of impact of global terrorism; research that had only been unveiled to
the ‘one MBA’ at Warwick. a senior audience at Chatham House the day before. Dr Bridgette
Sullivan-Taylor and Professor David Wilson co-presented their
The Dean, Howard Thomas, discussed strategy using quotations research entitled Leading your organisation through a world under siege
from Childs, Chandler and Rumelt – which brought back memories (see article on P18/19).
– how those names stuck in the mind before going into the exam
room! Howard then used the balanced scorecard as a vehicle for The audience then unleashed the usual barrage of incisive questions
illustrating the School’s future strategy. Both Sue and Howard ranging from the impact of culture on contingency planning, to the
highlighted the new and unique way the MBA is being developed to responsibility of government and the security services in corporate
provide ‘blended learning’ so it’s not all exams any more. strategy. Finally
we repaired to the
We were all well dined and wined in the Panorama Suite at Rootes excellent buffet to
– again those memories. It was great to chat with staff and alumni continue discussions
alike, and reminisce on the distant times when I studied for the informally and
MBA! to catch up with
old friends. An
To receive your copy of the booklet, ‘Warwick DLMBA, excellent evening
the first 20 years’ please contact Emma Nugent. and I look forward
E emma.nugent@wbs.ac.uk T +44 (0)24 76 524313 to seeing more of
you at the next event
WBS forums – new series on Wednesday 7
February, with a
Financial Services WBS-Detica City Series, sponsored by Detica
Building on the success of the autumn series of WBS forums
theme. Group plc. A series of events in London that
(see multimedia P6), the spring series will commence in February.
aims to unite WBS academics and leading
Full details can be found online at
practitioners in their field.
W www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni/forthcoming.cfm
14. 14 nexus: spring 07 WBS events calendar 2007
january
27 Alumni Board Away Day
30 Winter Graduation and Celebration dinner wbs forums
Throughout the autumn and spring
february terms WBS hosts a series of eight
lectures targeted at bringing together
2 First Friday – London post-graduate students and alumni to
hear world class speakers on campus.
5 Dublin drinks At the time of going to press not all
7 WBS – Detica City Series: Financial Services speakers for the spring series have
been confirmed, but autumn speakers
7 MBA Projects Evening included the Chief Economist of BP and
8 Alumni Board the COO of RHM plc. Full details will be
available online in early 2007.
12 WBS Forum – Peter Couch, Head of Strategy &
Regulation, National Grid Wireless
22 Reading dinner academic update
23 Telecoms Special Interest Group – Teleconference Following on from the sell-out success
of the 2006 Academic Update the
26 WBS Forum – Professor Jan Mouritsen, 2007 Academic Update Series will see
The Department of Operations Management, WBS faculty discussing 21st Century
Management, 21st Century Finance
Copenhagen Business School and 21st Century Leadership and
Strategic Change. These events are
open to all alumni and their guests and
march are aimed at those who would like to
update their knowledge with reference
10 Academic Update – Warwick: 21st Century Management to the latest research at an incredible
12 WBS Forum price of £65 for each one-day seminar.
12 Bulgaria drinks (Sofia)
13 Peterborough dinner
14 Romania drinks (Bucharest)
19 Portugal drinks (Lisbon)
april
13 First Friday – London
24 Leeds dinner
annual dinner
27 Telecoms Special Interest Group – Teleconference
anniversary dinner
may The fifth WBS Annual Dinner will
2 South West regional gathering be held at Tower Bridge (in the long
10 WBS 40th Anniversary Dinner (invitation only) room between the Towers!). All our
key volunteers will be invited by way
15 Milton Keynes dinner of thanks for the hard work they put
in for the alumni community and to
tbc Academic Update – London: 21st Century Finance promote WBS to the wider world. The
tbc Oxford regional gathering new Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel
Thrift, and the Dean of WBS, Professor
Howard Thomas, will use this event to
share their vision for the future with
members of the WBS community.
15. nexus: spring 07 WBS events calendar 2007 15
city dinner series june
First Friday – London 1
WBS alumni in the UK are clustered
around London and the Midlands. In Telecoms Special Interest Group – face to face event 20
2007 it is our aim to support alumni Cardiff dinner 26
networking in more sparsely populated
regions with a series of dinners. Faculty Alumni Board 28
will be attending each event to provide
some intellectual stimulation, along
with other members of the WBS team
who will bring you up to date with
july
developments from the School. Be sure 40th Anniversary Summer Ball 20
to receive your invitation by updating WBS Open Day & Opening of the second
your details at www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni
phase of WBS, Scarman Road 21
Midlands group summer picnic and open air theatre tbc
august
First Friday – London 3
september
North West dinner 4
Telecoms Special Interest Group – teleconference 7
Southampton dinner 18
Academic Update: 21st Century Leadership
& Strategic Change tbc
october
global dinners South West group 3
For one night only… on 15 November Alumni Board 4
we aim to unite the whole of the WBS
global community in a series of ad hoc First Friday – London 5
dinners or drinks receptions where ever
you may be around the world. If you
Edinburgh dinner 10
would like to organise an event that
starts at 7pm local time wherever you
live, work or will be visiting then please november
contact alumni@wbs.ac.uk. It is our Oxford regional gathering 8
aim to set a record for the number of
WBS alumni gathering together in a 24 40th Dinners across the Globe 15
hour period! Resources will be provided
by WBS to help make your event a
Telecoms Special Interest Group – teleconference 16
success. 40th Dinner in the City tbc
december
First Friday – London 7
16. 16
16
overseas event reviews
Hong Kong Canada
Miriam Mason, Manager, Warwick MBA by Full Time Study and Sam
Brook, International Exchanges & Student Services Coordinator,
hosted an informal gathering at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville,
prior to attending the Partnership in International Management
(PIM) conference. Members of the Toronto alumni community,
full-time students on extended exchange with PIM partners in North
America and a current DLMBA student were also joined by Professor
alumni reunited at the DLMBA anniversary celebrations Robert Dyson, who had just arrived in the city.
As part of the 20th DLMBA anniversary celebrations, alumni in
Hong Kong enjoyed an afternoon of intellectual stimulation, around the world
ceremonial splendour and networking opportunities when Professor
Howard Thomas, Dean, and Professor Colin Carnall, Associate Dean The MBA team would like to thank alumni for all their help at fairs
Executive Education, visited Hong Kong en route to a conference at on the recent World Tour. Alongside the MBA fairs, alumni events
CEIBS in Shanghai. took place in Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, New Delhi,
Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Moscow, Paris, Milan, Zurich
Following a replica graduation ceremony for alumni who were and Athens.
unable to graduate in person at Warwick earlier this year, the
two senior faculty members delivered thought-provoking and
challenging presentations on strategic thinking; the future of WBS Singapore
and the challenges associated with managing change. WBS hopes
to run more academic seminars like this wherever we have large Alumni in Singapore enjoyed a more
concentrations of alumni, ensuring that geography is not a barrier informal evening on the terrace at Raj
to learning from the latest academic research generated from WBS. Shourie’s house (DLMBA 91–9). This event
was targeted at bringing senior professionals
within Singapore together to network,
Greece as a complement to the existing alumni
activities in Singapore that have long been
championed by Ray Choa (MBA 00–1).
In 2007 WBS looks forwards to an increasing
presence in Singapore with the launch Ray and Elaine
of the Singapore Diploma in Service
Choa with Ben
Leadership which will see faculty members,
including Professor Bob Johnston and Plummer
Andrew Hardwick, regularly visiting the country. Hopefully the
alumni network will benefit from an increasing faculty presence in
Singapore and also the appointment of a University Representative
in Singapore, Mavis Ow (MA International Relations 99–00).
In November, Emma Nugent, Assistant Programme Manager,
DLMBA, and Ann Jackson, Marketing & International Relations
Officer, met with WBS alumni in Greece for a drinks gathering at
the Hard Rock Café in central Athens. Spyros Papadatos (MBA 00–1)
spoke about his vision for the Athens regional alumni group, ‘Our
From left to right: Stefanos Polymenopoulos, Tina aim is to organise a big conference for WBS alumni – also inviting
Iordanidou, Maria Chryssoulaki, Spyros Papadatos, Maria other top business schools alumni – with a panel of speakers
Stefanopoulou, Eirini Drakaki including WBS professors as well as prominent speakers from the
Greek marketplace (WBA alumni or not).’
17. nexus: spring 07 global community 17
that’s edutainment!
Completing a distance-learning MBA through WBS is challenging enough, but Joanna Hotung (DLMBA 92–6)
also gave birth to her two daughters during the three and a half years it took to earn her degree.
W hen reflecting on her WBS experience
recently, she related that it always
reminds her of when her children were
Originally Kids’ Gallery focused on the
Visual Arts, including arts and crafts,
sketching, and oil painting. Further
born, yet Joanna’s MBA experience gave programming in Performing Arts initiated
birth to one other exciting thing as well experiences for children in speech and
– Kids’ Gallery, a unique concept in arts drama, musical theatre, and singing.
enrichment education for children founded Realising that the original concept would
in Hong Kong in 1996. work as well in other Asian cities, Joanna
started expanding the business outside
Joanna started her career as a graduate Hong Kong. Now, if you were to stop in one
trainee on the competitive Marks & Spencer of the Kids’ Gallery centres in Hong Kong,
graduate management training programme China, Japan, or Thailand, you would find
at its Baker Street, London Head Office. a broad range of arts courses, including
After successfully completing the two-year programmes in Communication and
programme, she moved into management Language Arts designed to enhance English
consultancy at Coopers & Lybrand (now language skills through creative methods,
PricewaterhouseCoopers). and Digital Arts courses introducing
children to web design, animation, and
Following a move back to her native Hong film-making.
Kong due to her husband’s work, she found
out that she was expecting her first child. Joanna serves as founder and managing
Not wanting to continue full-time work director of the fast-growing company that
with a newborn, she decided to embark now has over 100 employees across eight
on the Warwick DLMBA, finding it to centres. Smiling broadly when describing
be the most comprehensive and flexible Kids’ Gallery, it is clear that Joanna loves her
distance learning MBA available. She was work. She describes her role as ‘the creative
particularly interested in the modules leader of a business that focuses on things
on entrepreneurship and small business I care about, such as children’s education
enterprise, believing that eventually starting and the arts. This requires that I be able to
her own business would be the best way work with people of all cultures, ages, and
for her to continue to work while raising backgrounds.’
her family. Through the DLMBA she was
thereby able to combine motherhood She explains that the Warwick MBA
with her desire to stay in touch with her prepared her for this by filling in the gaps in
career and developments in business and her knowledge of accounting and finance
management. which she needed to start her business. It
also honed her marketing skills, and helped
As a mother of young children, Joanna was Joanna Hotung her with the HR skills to grow a service
disappointed with the lack of creative, arts- business from a handful of employees
based learning opportunities for children in to the current operation. Joanna’s final
Hong Kong. Friends with children shared Arts education for dissertation was based on the business plan
her desire for arts-based learning and children makes sound for Kids’ Gallery, and therefore led directly
education programmes for children, as well into the establishment of her business.
as other young families she met. Like many business sense because quality
entrepreneurs, the concept of launching children’s programmes are This story is not over yet. Future plans
Kids’ Gallery became one she could not include actively seeking partners in
ignore. Joanna cheerfully noted that experiencing rapid growth Guangzhou, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Macau,
‘arts education for children makes sound and, even in difficult economic Manila, Seoul, Shenzhen, Singapore, and
business sense because quality children’s Taipei. Chances are you’re going to walk past
programmes are experiencing rapid
times, parents will cut back on a Kids’ Gallery before too long.
growth and, even in difficult economic luxuries for themselves rather
times, parents will cut back on luxuries than discontinue activities w www.kidsgallery.com
for themselves rather than discontinue
activities that prepare their children for the that prepare their children for
future.’ There is even now a term coined for the future.
this new industry – edutainment.
